Securing device for expansible bracelets.



C. L.- UEPO LLIER. SECURING DEVICE FOR EXPANSIBLE BRACELETS.

-APPL|CATION TILED MAR. I4. 1913.

1,158,90. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

67102465 L.pe,b0 Z 216K, anvemtoz CHARLES L. DEPOLLIER, OF NEW YORK, N.Y.

SECURING DEVICE FOR EXPANSIBLE BRACELETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

Application filed March 14, 1913. Serial No. 754,326.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. DEPOLLIER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city of New York, county of Kings, and

State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSecuring The object of my invention is to couple a bracelet structure bya novel construction of catch hook actuated by the spring mechanism ofthe terminal links of the said structure. I

Another object of this invention is to devise a reliable link catch hookconnection and guard therefor, whereby the component parts maybeassembled with security, linked and uncoupled with the greatestfacility, as

well as to provide neatness and simplicity in structure. i

The foregoing and such other objects as may occur from the ensuingdescription are attained by the construction, combination andarrangement of parts such as illustrated by the accompanying drawings,more fully described hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in theclaims appended hereto.

With reference to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevational view, ofan expansible bracelet, embodying my invention, and illustrating, theintroduction thereto, of a watchcase, and the bracelet in an open oruncou- .pled condition. Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of thebracelet, after the same has been closed by coupling the catch-hookthereof with the free loop or how of the watch-case. Fig. 3 is a sideelevational view of the bracelet illustrated in Fig. 2, illustrating itscondition when a plurality of my improved expansible link units areintroduced in lieu of the watch-case; in this view, it will be observedthat the bracelet appears in a closed or hooked condition. Fig. i'is afront elevational view thereof. Fig. 5 is a somewhat enlarged, sideelevational view of a unit link structure, ina contracted condition,

. and Fig. 6 is a similar view, illustrating the link structureextended. Fig. 7 is a front velevational view of the bracelet when inthe condition as illustrated in Fig. 5, and

Fig. 8, a like view thereof, when in the condition as illustrated inFig. 6. Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, of oneof my improved spring catch-hooks, combined with a terminal linkstructure; the latter having a portion of the side there ofbroken away,together with a fragmentary section of an adjoining link, and Fig. 10 isan enlarged detailed view of my improved catch-hook and guard'taken inperspective ing the same.

In the several figures, similar characters of reference are employed todesignate like ,or the same parts throughout where they occur, wherein,1 refers to the base of the bracelet structure, which is composed of aplurality of spring retracted link units of well known construction, inthe present instance, forming no part of my invention.

To each of the terminals 2 and 3 of the bracelet structure 1, ispivotally secured one loop 7. The lateral link plates 5 and 6 areprovided with longitudinal intermediately and a fragment of the linkterminal carry situated grooves or tracks 8 on their inner faces. Thesehave a cross-section of rectangular form and extend along the linkplates 5 and 6 substantially equai to the longitudinal range ofexpansion together with the spring displacement, as will be more fullyhereinafter described.

The side link plates 5 and 6 are laterally spaced to accommodate, andslidingly fit and support the open link loop 7 by cylindrical terminalcollets 9, and are secured together by through rivets 10.

Within the open link loop 7 and secured .to the inner end wall thereofand at the end adjacent to a neighboring open link loop 7, is a crosshead pin or guide 11. fhis has its ends projecting laterally, toslidingly it tracks 8 of the link 5 and and p o Inteiposed between thecollet 9 and guide pin ll isra spiral compression spring 12, the officeof which is to carry the open link loop 7 toward an adjacent similarlink of the link structure.

Projecting from the outer surface of the terminal link loop 7 andadjacent to a neighboring link loop is an integral barb 13. Thisprovides a finger catch, whereby the open link loop 7 may be drivenagainst the tension of the spring 12 away from the neighboring open link7. Integral with and extending from ea'ch of the side plates 5 and 6,are terminal: projecting lugs or guards 14 and integrally formed fromthe outer wall of the open link loop 7 is a hook'15. This latter isadapted to play between. the lugs or guards 1 1 slidinglyfas the'openlink loop 7 is slid longitudinally by the reaction of the spring '12.When the open link 7 however,

' is moved against the thrust of the spring 12 to the limit of itsoutward movement, a gap will be formed between the free ends of theguard 14 and the end of the hook 15,

thus presenting a passage or mouth between these two members for theconnection and disconnection of additional link units or the substitutewatch-case, referred to in Figs. 1 and 2.

In practice, I prefer to form the open link loop 7 of a strip of foldedmetal, having one of its terminals bent to form the hook 15,

and the other terminal bent to abut with and fit,against the inner wallof- 'the strip adjacent to the hook 15' after the said strip has beenfolded or otherwise formed to provide the open link formation and thenmake the said link integral by soldering the abutting end to the inneroradjacent surface of the open link 7 in a manner whereby a fillet 16will be formed at the junction.

In the instance illustrated, in Figs. 1 and 2, the terminal catch-hooks15 do not permit of being interlocked with each other to aii'ect theclosing of the bracelet without the introduction of an additionalelement, which, in this instance, is a watch-case 17. This is providedwith a laterally extending eye 18 and a ring or how 19 which respectivelengage the oppositely-situated catch-hoe 15.

When it is desired to vary the design from the watch-case feature tothat of a uniform meaeco space 23, sufficient to accommodate the hook 15at. each end of the bracelet structure, which, in Fig. 8 appearssomewhat elongated, owing to the extended position of the triple linkunit, as depicted in thi view, while in Fig. 7, the said clearance space23 is reduced to a minimum by virtue of the contracted condition of thestructure.

In removing the watch-case 17 and introducing in lieu thereof the.triple link unit comprising the members 20, 21 and 22, the catch-hooks15 are snapped over the free collets 9 of the link structures 21 and 22when the bracelet structure will assume the condition of thatillustrated in Figs. 3 and 4: when a transformation in the ornamentalfeature of the bracelet shall have been effected, as well as analteration in size, since additional peripheral length has been given itthereby, and as will be observed, the inner periphery has beenincreased.

, It is obvious that the enlargement may be augmented by theintroduction of a number ofthe link units, and thus not only a varietyin form but. changes in the size of the bracelet may be affected by myimprovements.

Moreover with respect to the catch-hook 15, i

duction of the guard 14:, forming a compon out part of the catch-hookstructure promotes durability at the coupling junction, inasmuch as thatit supports the end of the catch-hook 15 against lateral dislodgement,and in addition,. provides a foundation for the engaging terminal of alinked element.

proved expansible bracelet provides facili- Hence it will be understoodthat my imties whereby the ornamental features of the bracelet, as Wellas the size thereof, may be varied, and further, that it providesareliable and simple link connection or coupling between the severalunits of a bracelet or similar structure, and 1 Having fully describedmy invention 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe U. S.

In an expansibleli'nk device for securing an article to each end of abracelet, comprising a link structure composed of two interlinkedmembers slidable in relation to each other, one member consisting of twooppobeing provided with a. terminal projecting integral guard, and theother member consite laterally spaced link plates, each plate sisting ofan open link having a terminal name to this specification in thepresence of projecting hook portion at its outer end, twosubscribingWitnesses. said hook portion engaging with the ends of the said guardsand overlapping'the same to p CHARLES DEPOLLIER' 5 form a closed loopwhen the structure is in Witnesses: its closed position. HENRY GINNEL,

In testimony whereof, I have signed my W. F. LENCHTMANN.

